HI-TECH wizardy from an Oxfordshire firm features in movie director Ridley Scott’s latest blockbuster.

Wheatley-based AudioMotion Studios used motion capture technology for Moses epic Exodus: Gods and Kings.

Scenes showing thousands of charging horses and chariots in the film, in cinemas now, were created at riding stables in March last year.

AudioMotion managing director Mick Morris said: “Part of the reason we were chosen was because we have worked with horses in the past, including on the Prince Caspian and Genghis Khan films.

“But this is a first, in that before we captured one horse and this time we had 10.

“It was technically more challenging, because with two horses, that’s eight legs and we needed more than 400 markers and 150 cameras to track their movements, so it was a big undertaking.”

Stunt actors and horses were kitted out in special lycra suits, with tiny reflective markers placed at key points.

Oxford Mail:

  • A chariot, horses and charioteers kitted out with markers for the filming of Exodus: Gods and Kings

The movement was picked up by the cameras and relayed back to a super computer to create computer-generated images.

All filming took place under the watchful eye of animal welfare experts, Mr Morris said.

He added: “The horses were filmed tearing around the place. For something like this, you want dangerous-looking action, such as falling over and rearing up with the rider on their backs.

“But everything is done with great care and we have never had an animal injured.”

The AudioMotion team have helped create animation and special effects for a number of movies including World War Z, Gladiator, The Golden Compass, Prince Caspian, Genghis Khan and 10,000 Years BC.

Their work can also be spotted in video games, including best-sellers Formula 1, Killzone and Harry Potter.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

 

Latest Business news:

 

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.